Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor

ABSTRACT

This invention allows a user to easily classify and manage image files by recording an image file obtained by image capture and an image file obtained by being received from an external apparatus in different folders. For this purpose, a system control unit which controls an overall digital camera determines whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data captured in an image pickup mode or image data received in a communication mode which allows communication with the outside. The system control unit then determines whether the current mode is the image pickup mode or the mode which allows reception. If the current mode coincides with neither of the two modes, since it indicates that the source of the image data to be saved in a storage medium differs from the source of the latest saved image data, the system control unit turns on a folder creation flag for the creation of a folder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/676,712,filed Feb. 20, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus whichcaptures and records still and moving images.

2. Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras and digital video cameras have been widely used, whichcapture still and moving images by using image sensing devices such asCCD sensors and CMOS sensors.

Such an apparatus records captured images as digital data files(captured image files) on a storage medium such as a compact flashmemory card.

Many of these image processing apparatuses comprise interfaces forconnection to external apparatuses, and can record images received froma connection partner as well as captured images as digital data files.

In general, such apparatuses record image files captured in this mannerby using a file system (folder structure) using folders (directories).There is known a proposed technique of classifying captured image filesby using folders and performing subsequent search operations (e.g.,Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-54041).

The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-54041 isat best a technique associated with storage management of imagescaptured by the user himself/herself. As described above, many currentlyavailable digital cameras can communicate with external apparatuses, andobviously can receive and store image data from external apparatuses(PCs, other digital cameras, and the like). When a digital camera storesimages transferred from an external apparatus in this manner, thereceived images mix with the images captured by the user himself/herselfin one storage medium. This makes it impossible for the user todetermine which images are those received and which images are thosecaptured by himself/herself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the problems in suchconventional techniques.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique offacilitating file management by storing an image captured by a userhimself/herself and an image received from the outside in differentfolders.

In order to solve such problems, for example, an image pickup apparatusof the present invention has the following arrangement.

There is provided an image pickup apparatus including a communicationunit which communicates with an external apparatus, comprising a modeselection unit which selects an image pickup mode using an image pickupunit or a communication mode using the communication unit, a storing andholding unit which stores and holds information for discriminatingwhether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image dataobtained in the image pickup mode or image data obtained in thecommunication mode, a determination unit which determines whether tocreate a new folder, by comparing a current mode selected by the modeselection unit with a mode in which the latest image data is stored inthe storing and holding unit, and a file management unit which creates anew folder in the storage medium when image data to be stored in thestorage medium is obtained in one of the modes and the determinationunit determines to create a new folder, stores the image data as a filein the new folder, and when the determination unit determines not tocreate a new folder, stores the image data as a file in an existingfolder in the storage medium.

According to the present invention, recording an image file recorded byimage capture and an image file recorded by being received from anexternal apparatus in different folders allows the user to easilyclassify and manage image files.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a digital cameraaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by the systemcontrol unit of the digital camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by the systemcontrol unit of the digital camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by the systemcontrol unit of the digital camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S141 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S122 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S126 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S102 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S140 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S125 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the details of processing in step S108 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a view showing the structure of a setting table held in anonvolatile memory;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a GUI for settings for the creation of afolder in the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of display on a display unit in theembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of display on the display unit inthe embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of display on the display unit inthe embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of display on the display unit inthe embodiment; and

FIG. 18 is a view showing a GUI for settings for the creation of afolder in another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a digital camera asan example of an image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens;12, a shutter having a stop function; 14, an image sensing device such aCCD or a CMOS sensor which converts an optical image into an electricalsignal; and 16, an A/D converter which converts an analog signal outputfrom the image sensing device 14 into a digital signal.

A timing generating circuit 18 supplies clock signals and controlsignals to the image sensing device 14, the A/D converter 16, and a D/Aconverter 26. A memory control circuit 22 and a system control unit 50control the timing generating circuit 18.

An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixelinterpolation processing and color conversion processing for data fromthe A/D converter 16 or data from the memory control circuit 22.

The image processing circuit 20 also performs predetermined arithmeticprocessing by using captured image data. The system control unit 50controls an exposure control unit 40 and a focusing control unit 42 onthe basis of the arithmetic processing result. That is, the digitalcamera performs AF (Auto Focus) processing, AE (Auto Exposure)processing, and EF (Electronic Flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL(Through The Lens) system.

In addition, the image processing circuit 20 performs predeterminedarithmetic processing by using captured image data, and performs AWB(Auto White Balance) processing of the TTL system on the basis of theobtained arithmetic processing result.

The memory control circuit 22 controls the A/D converter 16, the timinggenerating circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, an image displaymemory 24, the D/A converter 26, a memory 30, and acompression/decompression circuit 32.

Data from the A/D converter 16 is written in the image display memory 24or the memory 30 through the image processing circuit 20 and the memorycontrol circuit 22 or is directly written in the image display memory 24or the memory 30 through the memory control circuit 22.

An image display unit 28 such as an LCD or an organic EL displaydisplays through the D/A converter 26 the display image data written inthe image display memory 24. Sequentially displaying captured image data(through-the-lens images) on the image display unit 28 makes it possibleto implement an electronic viewfinder (EVF) function.

The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on/off display inaccordance with an instruction from the system control unit 50. Turningoff display can greatly reduce the power consumption of a digital camera100.

The memory 30 is a storage device which stores captured still and movingimages, and has a storage capacity large enough to store a predeterminednumber of still images or a predetermined time period of moving images.For this reason, in the case of continuous shooting to continuouslycapture a plurality of still images, or in the case of panoramic imagecapture, it is possible to perform image writing into the memory 30 athigh speed and in large volume.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the memory 30 as a work area of thesystem control unit 50.

The compression/decompression circuit 32 receives image data stored inthe memory 30, performs known data compression processing ordecompression processing by using adaptive discrete cosine transform(ADCT), wavelet transform, or the like, and writes the processed data inthe memory 30.

The exposure control unit 40 controls the shutter 12 having the stopfunction and also has a flash dimming operation function in conjunctionwith an electronic flash 48.

The focusing control unit 42 controls focusing of the photographing lens10. A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens10. A barrier control unit 46 controls the opening/closing operation ofa lens barrier 102 as a lens barrier for protecting the photographinglens 10.

The electronic flash 48 functions as an auxiliary light source and alsohas a brightness control function. The electronic flash 48 also has anAF auxiliary light projection function.

The TTL system controls the exposure control unit 40 and the focusingcontrol unit 42. The image processing circuit 20 arithmeticallyprocesses captured image data. The system control unit 50 receives thearithmetic processing result and controls the exposure control unit 40and the focusing control unit 42.

The system control unit 50 is, for example, a CPU, and controls theoverall digital camera (image pickup apparatus) 100 by executing theprograms stored in a memory 52. The memory 52 stores constants,variables, programs, and the like for the operation of the systemcontrol unit 50.

A display unit 54 comprises a combination of output devices such as anLCD, an LED, and a speaker, and displays an operation state, a message,and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like inaccordance with the execution of a program by the system control unit50. The digital camera 100 has one or a plurality of display units 54arranged at easily observable positions near an operation unit 70. Partof the function of the display unit 54 is set in an optical viewfinder104.

The display contents of the display unit 54 include a singleshot/continuous shooting mode indication, a self-timer indication, acompression ratio indication, an indication of the number of recordingpixels, an indication of the number of recorded images, an indication ofthe number of remaining images that can be captured, a shutter speedindication, an F-number indication, an exposure correction indication,an electronic flash indication, a red-eye reduction indication, a macroimage capture indication, a buzzer setting indication, a remainingtimepiece battery level indication, a remaining battery levelindication, an error indication, an information indication by a numbercomposed of a plurality of digits, an indication of theattachment/detachment state of recording media 200 and 210, anindication of the attachment/detachment state of a lens unit, acommunication I/F operation indication, a date/time indication, anindication of the connection state to an external computer, an in-focusindication, an image capture preparation completion indication, a camerashake warning indication, an electronic flash charge indication, arecording medium write operation indication, and the like. Some of theseindications are displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 as will bedescribed later.

Among the display contents of the display unit 54, the display contentsof the LED or the like include an in-focus indication, an image capturepreparation completion indication, a camera shake warning indication, anelectronic flash charge indication, an electronic flash chargecompletion indication, a recording medium write operation indication, amacro image capture setting notification indication, a secondary batterycharged state indication, and the like.

Among the display contents of the display unit 54, the contentsdisplayed by a lamp and the like include an indication by a self-timernotification lamp and the like. This self-timer notification lamp may beused together with AF auxiliary light.

A nonvolatile memory 56 is a memory that is electrically erasable andprogrammable, and an EEPROM or the like is used as the nonvolatilememory 56. The nonvolatile memory 56 is used to hold setting information(FIG. 12) to be described later as well as the name of the user and thelike.

A mode dial 60, shutter switches 62 and 64, a reproduction mode switch66, an orientation mode switch 68, and the operation unit 70 constitutean operation means for inputting various operation instructions to thesystem control unit 50. Each of these components comprises a button, aswitch, a dial, a touch panel, a pointing device by line-of-sightdetection, a voice recognition device, or the like or a combinationthereof.

These operation means will be described concretely.

The mode dial 60 allows switching/setting of the following functionalimage capture modes: an automatic image capture mode, programmed imagecapture mode, shutter speed priority image capture mode, stop priorityimage capture mode, manual image capture mode, focal depth priority(depth) image capture mode, vertical position image capture mode,horizontal position image capture mode, closeup image capture mode,sports image capture mode, nightscape image capture mode, and panoramicimage capture mode.

The user turns on a shutter switch SW1 62 by pressing a shutter button(not shown), provided on the digital camera 100, midway (halfway). Whenthe user turns on the first shutter switch SW1, the system control unit50 gives the instruction for the start of processing, such as AF(Auto-Focus) processing, AE (Auto-Exposure) processing, AWB(Auto-White-Balance) processing, and EF (Electronic Flash pre-emission)processing.

Completely (fully) pressing the shutter button turns on a second shutterswitch SW2 64. When the user turns on the second shutter switch SW2, thesystem control unit 50 gives the instruction to start a series ofoperations including the exposure processing of writing a signal readfrom the image sensing device 14, as image data, in the memory 30through the A/D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22, thedevelopment processing using arithmetic processing in the imageprocessing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, and therecording processing of reading out image data from the memory 30,compressing the data in the compression/decompression circuit 32, andwriting the image data in the recording medium 200 or 210.

The reproduction mode switch 66 can set a reproduction mode,multi-screen reproduction/erase mode, PC connection mode, and the like.

The user uses the orientation mode switch 68 to turn on/off anorientation mode. The orientation mode is a mode of recording, on arecording medium, the orientation of the digital camera 100 detected bya camera orientation detection unit 106 at the time of image capture asauxiliary information (image orientation flag) in a captured image file,and using the recorded data at the time of reproduction. Morespecifically, this mode can perform control by referring to the imageorientation flag at the time of reproduction such that an image capturedin a vertical position is automatically displayed in a verticalposition, and an image captured in a horizontal position isautomatically displayed in a horizontal position.

The operation unit 70 comprises various buttons, a touch panel, and thelike. More specifically, the buttons and switches of the operation unit70 include a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screenreproduction/new page button, an electronic flash setting button, asingle shot/continuous shooting/self-timer switching button, a menumovement + (plus) button, a menu movement − (minus) button, areproduction image movement + (plus) button, a reproduction imagemovement − (minus) button, a captured image quality selection button, anexposure correction button, a date/time setting button, aselection/switching button for selecting and switching variousfunctions, a determination/execution button for determining andexecuting various functions, an image display ON/OFF switch for turningon/off the image display unit 28, a quick review ON/OFF switch forsetting a quick review function of automatically reproducing capturedimage data immediately after image capture, and a compression modeswitch for selecting a compression ratio for JPEG (Joint PhotographicExpert Group) compression or selecting a CCDRAW mode of recording asignal from the image sensing device on a recording medium uponconverting it into a digital signal.

In this embodiment, as JPEG compression modes, for example, a normalmode and a fine mode are prepared. The user of the digital camera 100can perform image capture by selecting the normal mode when importanceis attached to the data size of a captured image, or by selecting thefine mode when importance is attached to the quality of a capturedimage.

In a JPEG compression mode, the compression/decompression circuit 32reads out image data written in the memory 30, compresses the data at aset compression ratio, and records the data on, for example, therecording medium 200.

In a RAW mode, image data is read out from the memory 30, which isdirectly read from the image sensing device 14 for each line inaccordance with the pixel array of the color filter of the image sensingdevice 14 through the A/D converter 16 and the memory control circuit22, and is recorded on the recording medium 200.

A power switch 72 is a switch for turning on or off the power supply ofthis apparatus.

A new folder creation request button 74 is a button for creating a newfolder in the recording medium 200 or 210 at the time of next imagecapture. When the user presses this button and is to store an image filein the recording medium 200 or 210, a new folder is created, and thefile is stored in the created folder.

A power control unit 80 comprises a battery detection circuit, a DC/DCconverter, a switch circuit which switches blocks to be energized, andthe like. The power control unit 80 detects the attachment/detachment ofa battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, andcontrols the DC/DC converter on the basis of the detection result and aninstruction from the system control unit 50, thereby applying anecessary voltage to each unit including a recording medium for anecessary period of time.

A power supply 86 comprises a primary battery, such as an alkalinebattery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as an NiCdbattery, an NiMH battery, or an Li battery, an AC adaptor, and the like.The power supply 86 is mounted in the digital camera 100 throughconnectors 82 and 86.

The recording media 200 and 210 such as a memory card and a hard diskrespectively include recording units 202 and 212 comprising asemiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, interfaces 204 and214 for the digital camera 100, and connectors 206 and 216. Therecording media 200 and 210 are loaded in the digital camera 100 throughthe connectors 206 and 216 on the medium side and connectors 92 and 96on the digital camera 100 side. Interfaces 90 and 94 connect to theconnectors 92 and 96, respectively. A recording mediumattachment/detachment detecting unit 98 detects theattachment/detachment of the recording media 200 and 210.

Although this embodiment has exemplified the digital camera 100including two systems of interfaces and connectors for the attachment ofrecording media, the camera may comprise arbitrary numbers of interfacesand connectors as well as a single interface and a single connector. Inaddition, the embodiment may use interfaces and connectors withdifferent specifications for the respective systems.

As interfaces and connectors, those complying with specifications suchas the PCMCIA card specifications and the CF (CompactFlash (registeredtrademark)) card specifications can be used.

When this embodiment uses interfaces and connectors complying with thePCMCIA card specifications and the like as the interfaces 90 and 94 andthe connectors 92 and 96, various types of communication cards can beconnected. Such communication cards include a LAN card, a modem card, aUSB card, an IEEE1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, and acommunication card for PHS or the like. Connecting various types ofcommunication cards makes it possible to exchange image data andmanagement information attached to image data with other computers andperipheral devices such as printers.

The lens barrier 102 covers the image pickup unit including the lens 10of the digital camera 100 to prevent the image pickup unit from beingcontaminated or damaged.

The optical viewfinder 104 is, for example, a TTL viewfinder, and formsa light beam passing through the lens 10 into an image by using a prismand a mirror. Using the optical viewfinder 104 makes it possible toperform image capture without using the electronic viewfinder functionof the image display unit 28. As described above, information associatedwith some of the functions displayed on the display unit 54 aredisplayed in the optical viewfinder 104.

For example, the information includes an in-focus indication, an imagecapture preparation completion indication, a camera shake warningindication, an electronic flash charge indication, an electronic flashcharge completion indication, a shutter speed indication, an F-numberindication, an exposure correction indication, a recording medium writeoperation indication, and the like.

The camera orientation detection unit 106 includes, for example, aswitch which is turned on/off depending on the orientation of thecamera, and detects the orientation state of the digital camera 100. The“orientation state” indicates a state from which it can be discriminatedwhether the camera is in the state of image capture in a horizontalposition or image capture in a vertical position.

A communication unit 110 performs various types of communicationprocessing such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, andwireless communication.

A connector (an antenna in a case of wireless communication) 112connects the digital camera 100 to another device through thecommunication unit 110.

The contents of processing performed by the system control unit 50 inthis embodiment will be described next.

The actual contents of the processing will be described after thedescription of an outline of a characteristic portion of thisembodiment.

The digital camera according to this embodiment encodes image dataobtained by the image sensing device 14, and stores the data as a filein the recording medium 200 or 210. In this case, the camera creates afolder in advance (which will be described in detail later) and storesthe data in the folder. In addition, the digital camera according to theembodiment can also receive image data from an external apparatus (e.g.,another digital camera) by wireless communication through thecommunication unit 110 and store the data as a file in any one of thefolders in the recording media 200 and 210.

That is, there are two sources of image data stored in the recordingmedia 200 and 210: an external apparatus and the digital camera of thisembodiment. For the sake of descriptive simplicity, that an image datasource is an external apparatus is expressed as that “an image datasource is outside the camera”, and that an image data source is adigital camera is expressed as that “an image data source is inside theapparatus”.

In this embodiment, when one image data source switches to the other,the camera can automatically perform the process of creating a newfolder and storing image data from the image data source into thecreated folder.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the user explicitly inputs aninstruction to create a new folder and image data to be stored isgenerated, the camera can create a new folder and store the image dataas a file in the folder.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the setting table held in the nonvolatilememory 56.

An automatic folder creation flag is determined by displaying a menulike that shown in FIG. 13 on the image display unit 28 and making theuser operate with respect to the display. The automatic folder creationflag is turned on when the user selects “store in new folder” on themenu in FIG. 13. The automatic folder creation flag is turned off whenthe user selects “store in existing folder” on the menu in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 12, the “manual folder creation flag” is determineddepending on the new folder creation request button 74. When the userpresses the new folder creation request button 74, the manual foldercreation flag is turned on. When the user presses the new foldercreation request button 74 again, the manual folder creation flag isturned off.

In addition, referring to FIG. 12, the field “latest image source”stores information indicating whether the image data source of thelatest image data file stored in each of the recording media 200 and 210is outside or inside the camera.

In this embodiment, when the manual folder creation flag is turned onand an image file is to be stored in the recording medium 200 or 210,the camera creates a new folder and determines it as a storage target inthe subsequent processing regardless of whether the source of the imagefile is outside/inside the apparatus. For this reason, when the manualfolder creation flag is ON and a folder is created, the camera turns offthe manual folder creation flag (which operation will be described indetail later).

When the automatic folder creation flag is ON and the source of thelatest image data file stored in the recording medium 200 or 210 differsfrom the source of image data to be stored this time, the camera createsa new folder and stores the newly created or received image data in thefolder. The camera maintains this automatic folder creation flag unlessthe user makes a change on the menu in FIG. 13.

Note that if both the manual folder creation flag and the automaticfolder creation flag are OFF, the camera stores the newly created imagedata in the folder in which the camera stored an image data file lastly.

Based on the above description, the contents of the processing performedby the system control unit 50 in this embodiment will be described withreference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 11. Although the flag termed“folder creation flag” will appear in the following description, itshould be noted that this is a flag temporarily created in the RAM inthe system control unit 50, and differs from the above manual foldercreation flag and automatic folder creation flag.

The process of creating a folder creation flag storing informationindicating whether to create a folder, on the basis of the values of themanual folder creation flag and automatic folder creation flag will bedescribed first with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. Thisprocessing is the same as that in step S140 in FIG. 3 and step S410 inFIG. 4, which will be described later.

First of all, the system control unit 50 determines in step S901 whethera folder can be created in the recording medium 200 (or 210). The systemcontrol unit 50 performs this determination on the basis of whether therecording medium 200 (or 210) is mounted in the digital camera of thisembodiment.

If the system control unit 50 determines that a folder cannot becreated, the process advances to step S908 to turn off the foldercreation flag.

If the system control unit 50 determines that a folder can be created,the process advances to step S902 to determine whether the foldercreation flag (see FIG. 12) is ON. If the system control unit 50determines that the folder creation flag is ON, the process advances tostep S907 to turn on the folder creation flag.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S902 that the foldercreation flag is OFF, the process advances to step S903. In step S903,the system control unit 50 determines whether the automatic foldercreation flag (FIG. 12) is ON. If the system control unit 50 determinesthat the automatic folder creation flag is OFF, the process advances tostep S908 to turn off the folder creation flag.

If the system control unit 50 determines that the automatic foldercreation flag is ON, the process advances to step S904 to read in thelatest image source information from the setting table (see FIG. 12) inthe nonvolatile memory 56. In step S905, the system control unit 50determines whether the source of the latest image data stored in therecording medium 200 (or 210) is data from the outside or the apparatusitself (inside). If the system control unit 50 determines that thelatest image data stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) is datareceived from the outside, the process advances to step S906.

In step S906, the system control unit 50 determines whether the currentmode is the image capture mode. That is, the system control unit 50determines whether the source of the latest image data stored in therecording medium 200 (or 210) differs from the source from which imagedata is assumed to be stored in a recording medium in accordance withthe current mode. If the current mode is the image capture mode, theimage data obtained when the user performs image capture by turning onthe shutter switch SW2 will be stored in the newly created folder. Theprocess therefore advances to step S907 to turn on the folder creationflag, and the system control unit 50 terminates this processing. If thesystem control unit 50 determines in step S906 that the current mode isthe reproduction mode, since it indicates that the source of the imagedata to be stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) is the same asthe source of the image data stored lastly, the process advances to stepS908 to turn off the folder creation flag. The system control unit 50then terminates this processing.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S905 that the source ofthe latest image data stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) isinside the camera, the process advances to step S909. In step S909, thesystem control unit 50 determines whether the current mode is thereproduction mode. That is, the system control unit 50 determineswhether the source of the latest image data stored in the recordingmedium 200 (or 210) differs from the source of image data assumed to bestored in the recording medium in accordance with the current mode. Ifthe current mode is the reproduction mode, it is the image data receivedfrom an external data source that is stored in the recording medium 200(or 210). The process advances to step S907 to turn on the foldercreation flag. The system control unit 50 then terminates thisprocessing. If the system control unit 50 determines in step S909 thatthe current mode is the image capture mode, it indicates that the sourceof the image data to be stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) inthis mode is the same as that of the image data stored lastly. Theprocess then advances to step S908, and the system control unit 50 turnsoff the folder creation flag and terminates this processing.

To summarize the above processing, at least one of conditions A and Bgiven below is satisfied to turn on the folder creation flag:

condition A: when the manual folder creation flag is ON; and

condition B: when the manual folder creation flag is OFF, automaticfolder creation flag is ON, and the source of the latest image datastored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) differs from the source ofimage data assumed to be stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) inthe current mode.

In contrast, if the above conditions are not satisfied, the foldercreation flag is turned off.

The main processing performed by the system control unit 50 according tothis embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchartsof FIGS. 2 to 4.

When the main power supply is turned on upon battery change, the systemcontrol unit 50 initializes the respective constituent elements (S101).The system control unit 50 then performs file search processing in therecording medium 200 or 210 (S102). The details of the file searchprocessing in step S102 will be described later with reference to FIG.8.

The system control unit 50 determines the set position of the powerswitch 72 (S103). If the power switch 72 is set OFF, the processadvances to step S104 to perform predetermined termination processing.Termination processing includes the following processing: changing thedisplay state of each display unit to the terminated state andprotecting the image pickup unit by closing the lens barrier 102;recording the flags, the parameters including control variables and thelike, the set values, and the set mode in the nonvolatile memory 56;causing the power control unit 80 to interrupt power to portions towhich power need not be supplied, including the image display unit 28;and disconnecting the camera from an external apparatus if the camerahas connected to it. When the system control unit 50 completes thetermination processing, the process returns to step S103.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S103 that the powerswitch 72 is set ON, the process advances to step S106 to detect the setposition of the mode dial 60 and determine whether the current mode isthe image capture mode. Upon determining that the current mode is theimage capture mode, the system control unit 50 sets image captureconditions in step S108. The process then advances to step S109. Thedetails of the image capture condition setting processing in step S108will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.

Upon determining in step S106 that the mode dial 60 is set in a modeother than the image capture mode, the system control unit 50 determinesin step S115 whether the communication unit 110 is currentlycommunicating with an external apparatus. If the system control unit 50determines that the communication unit 110 is currently communicating,the process advances to step S109. If the system control unit 50determines that the communication unit 110 is not communicating with anyexternal apparatus, the process advances to step S107 to executeprocessing corresponding the selected mode. When the system control unit50 completes the processing, the process returns to step S103. One ofthe processes in step S107 is the process of displaying the GUI in FIG.13 described above.

When the process advances to step S109, the system control unit 50determines the remaining capacity or operation state of the power supply86 comprising a battery and the like by using the power control unit 80.If the system control unit 50 determines that the state of the powersupply 86 is a problem in terms of the operation of the digital camera100, the system control unit 50 issues a predetermined warningcorresponding to the problem with an image or sound using the displayunit 54 in step S111. The process then returns to step S103.

If the system control unit 50 determines that there is no problem in thepower supply 86, the process advances to step S110 to check therecording medium. That is, the system control unit 50 confirms theattachment/detachment of the recording medium 200 or 210, and determineswhether there is sufficient free area, upon determining that therecording medium 200 or 210 is mounted. Upon determining that there is aproblem in terms of recording/reproducing operation with respect to arecording medium, for example, neither the recording medium 200 nor therecording medium 210 is mounted, there is no free area, or normalread/write operation cannot be performed, the system control unit 50issues a predetermined warning corresponding to the problem with animage or sound by using the display unit 54 in step S111. The processthen returns to step S103.

If the system control unit 50 determines that there is no problem in thepower supply and the recording medium, the process advances to step S114to determine whether the current mode is the image capture mode or thecamera connects to an external apparatus in another mode.

If the system control unit 50 determines that the current mode is theimage capture mode, the process advances to step S140 (FIG. 3). Theprocessing in step S140 is both the processing in FIG. 9 which hasalready been described and the process of determining the value of thefolder creation flag.

The system control unit 50 advances to step S141 to display variouskinds of set states on the display unit 54. Note that if the imagedisplay unit 28 is set ON, the system control unit 50 displays variouskinds of set states of the digital camera 100 with images by using theimage display unit 28 as well. The details of this setting displayprocessing will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

After setting display processing, the system control unit 50 detects thestate of the shutter switch SW1 in step S121. If the shutter switch SW1is not ON (the release button is not in the half pressed state), theprocess returns to step S103. Upon determining that the shutter switchSW1 is ON, the system control unit 50 advances the process to step S122.

In step S122, the system control unit 50 performs focusing processing(AF processing) to focus the photographing lens 10 on an object, andperforms photometry processing (AE processing) to determine an F-numberand a shutter speed. In this photometry processing, the system controlunit 50 also performs electronic flash setting. This focusing/photometryprocessing will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 6.

When the focusing/photometry processing is complete, the system controlunit 50 checks the states of the shutter switches SW1 and SW2 (stepsS123 and S124). If the shutter switch SW1 is turned off while theshutter switch SW2 is OFF, the process returns to step S103.

When the system control unit 50 detects that the shutter switch SW2 isturned on (the release button is fully pressed) while the shutter switchSW1 is ON, the process advances to step S125.

In step S125, the system control unit 50 determines a save file name forthe preparation of image capture, and performs file/folder managementprocessing, e.g., creation processing for a new folder, in accordancewith the settings. The folder/file management processing in step S125will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 10.

In step S126, the system control unit 50 performs image captureprocessing. First of all, the system control unit 50 writes capturedimage data in the memory 30 through the image sensing device 14, A/Dconverter 16, image processing circuit 20, and memory control circuit22, or directly writes the data in the memory 30 from the A/D converterthrough the memory control circuit 22 (exposure processing). The systemcontrol unit 50 reads out the image data written in the memory 30 byusing the memory control circuit 22 and also using the image processingcircuit 20 as needed, and executes image capture processing comprisingthe development processing of performing various processes. This imagecapture processing will be described in detail later with reference toFIG. 7.

Upon completing the image capture processing, the system control unit 50performs quick review processing of displaying the captured image on theimage display unit 28, and displays the captured image for the user toallow him/her to check the image in step S127.

If no deletion instruction is issued during a predetermined quick reviewperiod, the system control unit 50 performs recording processing in stepS128. That is, the system control unit 50 reads out the captured imagedata written in the memory 30, and performs various kinds of imageprocessing by using the memory control circuit 22 (also using the imageprocessing circuit 20 as needed). The system control unit 50 thenperforms image compression processing corresponding to the set mode byusing the compression/decompression circuit 32 to create a capturedimage file complying with a predetermined recording file format byadding additional information such as an orientation flag to the headeror the like. The system control unit 50 then writes the captured imagefile at a predetermined recording destination in the recording medium200 or 210 such as a memory card or CompactFlash (registered trademark)card through the interface 90 or 94 and the connector 92 or 96.

If the image display unit 28 is ON, the system control unit 50 displaysan indication like “BUSY” indicating that write operation is beingperformed on the image display unit 28 while writing image data in therecording medium 200 or 210. In addition, the system control unit 50displays a recording medium write operation indication such as blinkingof the LED on the display unit 54.

Subsequently, the process advances to step S142 to store, in “latestimage source” in the setting table (see FIG. 12), information indicatingthat the image data recorded in step S128 has been captured by thedigital camera itself, i.e., the source of the latest image data isinside the camera.

The process advances to step S129, in which the system control unit 50determines the state of a bracket flag stored in an internal memory orthe memory 52 (step S129). The bracket flag is a flag representing theexecution/non-execution of auto bracketing. If the bracket flag isreleased, the flow advances to step S132.

Upon determining that the bracket flag is set, the system control unit50 determines in step S130 whether the number of remaining frames inauto bracketing is one or more. If the result is YES in step S130, sinceit indicates that auto bracketing is not complete, the system controlunit 50 changes image capture conditions in auto bracketing in stepS131. The flow then returns to step S125. When the process returns tostep S125, the system control unit 50 creates no new folder, althoughthis operation will be obvious from the following description. Inaddition, image capture conditions in auto bracketing include, forexample, an exposure correction value and a white balance value.

When the process advances to step S132, the system control unit 50detects the state of the shutter switch SW2. If the shutter switch SW2is OFF, the process returns to step S103. If the shutter switch SW2 isON, the process advances to step S133 to detect the state of acontinuous shooting flag stored in the internal memory or the memory 52in the system control unit 50. If the continuous shooting flag is set,the process advances to step S134.

In step S134, the system control unit 50 determines the state of thebracket flag as in step S129, and determines whether the bracket flag isreleased (OFF). If the system control unit 50 determines that thebracket flag is released, the process returns to step S125 to performthe next image capture. If the bracket flag is set, the process returnsto step S103. This is because, in this embodiment, setting is performedsuch that if the bracket flag is ON, no continuous shooting isperformed.

The above is the processing in the image capture mode. Processing to beperformed when the system control unit 50 determines in step S114 inFIG. 2 that the camera is communicating with an external apparatus willbe described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First of all, the system control unit 50 determines in step S410 whetherto create a new folder. The folder creation determination processing instep S410 is the same as that in step S140 in FIG. 3. That is, asalready has been described with reference to FIG. 9, the system controlunit 50 performs this processing to determine the value of the foldercreation flag for determining whether to create a new folder.

The system control unit 50 then advances to step S412 to display varioussetting states on the display unit 54. If the image display unit 28 isset to ON, the system control unit 50 displays various setting states ofthe digital camera 100 with images by also using the image display unit28. The details of this setting display processing are also the same asthose of step S141 in FIG. 3 and will be described later with referenceto FIG. 5.

In step S401, the system control unit 50 determines whether the camerais currently communicating with an external device through thecommunication unit 110 and the reception of image data from the externalapparatus is detected. If the system control unit 50 determines that thereception of image data is not detected, the process returns to stepS103. If the system control unit 50 determines that the reception ofimage data is detected, the process advances to step S402, in which thesystem control unit 50 determines whether it can currently receive theimage data. In this case, states in which image data cannot be receivedinclude a state in which, for example, the system control unit 50 isaccessing the recording medium 200 and no data can be written fromanother apparatus into the recording medium 200, a state in which thereis no free area in the recording medium 200.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S402 that the imagedata can be received, the process advances to step S403. In step S403,the system control unit 50 performs file/folder management, e.g.,determining a save file name for the preparation of reception andcreating a new folder in accordance with the settings. The processing instep S403 is the same as that in step S125 in FIG. 3, and the detailsthereof will be described later with reference to FIG. 12.

Subsequently, the system control unit 50 performs recording processingin step S404. That is, the system control unit 50 reads out the receivedimage data written in the memory 30, and performs various kinds of imageprocessing by using the memory control circuit 22 (also using the imageprocessing circuit 20 as needed). The system control unit 50 thenperforms image compression processing corresponding to the set mode byusing the compression/decompression circuit 32 to create a receivedimage file complying with a predetermined recording file format byadding additional information such as an orientation flag to the headeror the like. The system control unit 50 then writes the received imagefile to a predetermined recording destination in the recording medium200 or 210 such as a memory card or CompactFlash (registered trademark)card through the interface 90 or 94 and the connector 92 or 96.

If the image display unit 28 is ON, the system control unit 50 displaysan indication like “BUSY” indicating that write operation is beingperformed on the image display unit 28 while writing image data into therecording medium 200 or 210. In addition, the system control unit 50displays a recording medium write operation indication such as blinkingof the LED on the display unit 54.

Subsequently, in step S405, the system control unit 50 stores, in“latest image source” in the setting table in the nonvolatile memory 56,information indicating “outside” to indicate the source of the latestimage data stored in the recording medium 200 is outside the camera. Theprocess then returns to step S103.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the setting displayprocessing in step S141 in FIG. 3 and step S412 in FIG. 4.

First of all, the system control unit 50 determines the value of thefolder creation flag which is determined in step S140 or S410. Upondetermining that the folder creation flag is ON, the system control unit50 gives a notification of the creation of a new folder in the nextimage capture using the display unit 54 with an image or sound (stepS502). Note that if the image display unit 28 is ON, the system controlunit 50 gives a notification of the creation of a folder using the imagedisplay unit 28 with an image or sound.

If the folder creation flag is OFF, the system control unit 50 stopsgiving the notification of the creation of a folder on the display unit54 (including the image display unit 28) in step S503. Note, however,that as will be described later, if the display unit which has receivedthe notification of the creation of the folder immediately updates thestate, i.e., stops giving the notification of the creation of thefolder, there is no need to execute step S503.

In step S504, the system control unit 50 notifies the various settingstates of the digital camera 100, other than the folder creation flag,on the display unit 54 (and/or the image display unit 28) (or updatesthe notification contents), and terminates the processing.

FIG. 14 shows an example of display performed by the display unit 54(and the image display unit 28) when the system control unit 50 performsthe processing in steps S503 and S504. With the processing in step S504,the system control unit 50 displays a single shot/continuous shootingindication (28 a), an electronic flash indication (28 b), a photometryscheme indication (28 c), a compression ratio indication (28 d), anindication of the number of recording pixels (28 e), and an indicationof the number of remaining images that can be captured (28 f).

FIG. 15 shows an example of display performed by the display unit 54(and the image display unit 28) when the system control unit 50 performsthe processing in steps S502 and S504. As in the case shown in FIG. 14,the system control unit 50 displays a single shot/continuous shootingindication (28 a), an electronic flash indication (28 b), a photometryscheme indication (28 c), a compression ratio indication (28 d), anindication of the number of recording pixels (28 e), and an indicationof the number of remaining images that can be captured (28 f). Inaddition, with the processing in step S502, when saving the next imagefile, the system control unit 50 displays an icon 28 g for displayinginformation indicating that a folder is to be created. During quickreview processing in step S127, the system control unit 50 may or maynot display a folder creation indication (e.g., an icon 28 g in FIG.15). Likewise, during quick review processing in step S127, the systemcontrol unit 50 may or may not display various setting indications(e.g., icons 28 a to 28 f in FIG. 15) of the digital camera 100 otherthan the folder creation indication.

FIG. 16 shows an example of display performed by the display unit 54(and the image display unit 28) when the system control unit 50 performsthe processing in step S503 and 5504.

In this embodiment, a reproduction mode state is assumed as a receivablestate, and hence during a reception wait state, the display unit 54displays the same information as that in the reproduction mode.

That is, the display unit 54 displays information associated with agiven image and connection information, e.g., a field intensityindication (28 h), a currently displayed file number (28 j), and theimage capture date (28 i) of the displayed file.

FIG. 17 shows an example of display performed by the display unit 54(and the image display unit 28) when the system control unit 50 performsthe processing in steps S502 and 5504. As in FIG. 16, the display unit54 displays information associated with a given image and connectioninformation, e.g., a field intensity indication (28 h), a currentlydisplayed file number (28 j), and the image capture date (28 i) of thedisplayed file. With the processing in step S502, the display unit 54also displays the folder creation icon 28 g.

The details of the focusing/photometry processing in step S122 in FIG. 3will be described next with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

The system control unit 50 reads out a charge signal from the imagesensing device 14, and sequentially writes captured image data in theimage processing circuit 20 through the A/D converter 16 (step S601).The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmeticprocessing used for AE (Auto Exposure) processing, EF (Electronic Flashpre-emission) processing, and AF (Auto Focus) processing of the TTL(Through The Lens) system by using the sequentially read image data.

In each process in this case, of the total number of captured pixels,the image processing circuit 20 extracts a necessary number of pixels ofa specific portion corresponding to necessity and uses them forarithmetic processing. This makes it possible to perform optimalarithmetic processing for each of the different modes, e.g., thecenterweighted mode, average mode, and evaluation mode in each of theAE, EF, AWB, and AF processes of the TTL system.

The system control unit 50 performs AE control using the exposurecontrol unit 40 in step S603 until determining in step S602 by using thearithmetic processing result obtained by the image processing circuit 20that an automatic exposure value is proper. The system control unit 50determines by using the measurement data obtained by AE control whetherthe electronic flash is necessary (S604). If the electronic flash isnecessary, the system control unit 50 sets the electronic flash flag tocharge the electronic flash 48 (S605).

Upon determining in step S602 that an automatic exposure value isproper, the system control unit 50 stores measurement data and/orsetting parameters (photometry data) in automatic exposure control inthe internal memory or the memory 52 in the system control unit 50.

When the AE control processing is complete, the system control unit 50performs auto white balance processing by using the arithmeticprocessing result in the image processing circuit 20 and the measurementdata obtained by AE control in steps S606 and 5607. That is, the systemcontrol unit 50 adjusts color processing parameters by using the imageprocessing circuit 20 in step S607 until determining in step S606 thatan auto white balance value is proper.

Upon determining in step S606 that an auto white balance value isproper, the system control unit 50 stores measurement data or settingparameters in AWB control in the internal memory or the memory 52.

The system control unit 50 then performs AF control by using themeasurement data obtained by AE control and AWB control in steps S608and 5609. That is, the system control unit 50 drives the AF lens andcalculates the degree of focusing by using the focusing control unit 42until determining in step S508 that an in-focus state is obtained.

Upon determining in step S608 that an in-focus state is obtained, thesystem control unit 50 stores measurement data and/or setting parametersin AF control in the internal memory and the memory 52, and terminatesthe focusing/photometry process.

The details of the image capture processing in step S126 in FIG. 3 willbe described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

The system control unit 50 causes the exposure control unit 40 to startexposure by the image sensing device 14 by opening the shutter 12 havingthe stop function in accordance with an F-number on the basis of thephotometry data stored in the internal memory or the memory 52 (S701 andS702).

The system control unit 50 then determines in step S703 in accordancewith the electronic flash flag whether it is necessary to emit lightusing the electronic flash 48. If the result is YES in step S703, thesystem control unit 50 causes the electronic flash 48 to emit light instep S704.

The system control unit 50 waits for the elapse of the exposure time ofthe image sensing device 14 in accordance with the photometry data(S705), and closes the shutter 12 (S706), thereby terminating theexposure. The system control unit 50 reads a charge signal from theimage sensing device 14, and writes the captured image data in thememory 30 through the A/D converter 16, image processing circuit 20, andmemory control circuit 22, or writes the data from the A/D converter 16into the memory 30 through the memory control circuit 22 (step S707). Ifthe captured image data write in the memory 30 is complete, the systemcontrol unit 50 terminates the image capture processing.

The file search processing in step S102 in FIG. 2 will be described nextwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8.

First of all, the system control unit 50 determines in step S801 whethersearch processing is complete up to the latest image. Upon determiningthat the search processing is not complete, the system control unit 50reads out the root directory entry from the recording medium 200 or 210(step S802).

The system control unit 50 then analyzes the root directory entry readout in step S802 to determine the presence/absence of a “/DCIM” folder(directory) (step S803). If the “/DCIM” folder does not exist, thesystem control unit 50 determines that there is no reproduction image,and terminates the processing.

Upon determining that the “/DCIM” folder exists in the root directoryentry, the system control unit 50 reads in the directory entry of the“/DCIM” folder. The system control unit 50 then sets a search foldernumber (DirNum) to 999 which is the maximum number in the DCFspecifications (Design rule for Camera File system), and sets a variable(FileNum) representing the number of files to 0 (step S805).

The system control unit 50 checks whether there is a correspondingfolder (step S806). More specifically, the system control unit 50 checkswhether a [/DCIM/(DirNum)XXXXX] folder (directory) exists in therecording medium. In this case, (DirNum) in a folder name is the valueof the variable DirNum, i.e., a DCF directory number (999 to 100), and Xis an arbitrary ASCII one-byte alphanumeric character. For example, ifthe value of the variable DirNum is “100”, and XXXXX is “ABCDE”,[/DCIM/(DirNum)XXXXX] represents [/DCIM/100ABCDE].

Upon determining in step S806 that there is a folder having a name inthe form of “number of 100 to 999+five one-byte alphanumericcharacters”, the system control unit 50 reads out the content (directoryentry) (S807). The system control unit 50 then determines whether thereis any reproducible file (S808). The system control unit 50 performsthis determination by checking the presence/absence of a file having apredetermined extension (e.g., .jpg).

Upon determining in step S808 that that there is no reproducible file,the system control unit 50 determines whether DirNum has reached theminimum value (=100). If the value of DirNum>100, the system controlunit 50 decrements the current value by one (S811). The flow thenreturns to step S806 to search for a next folder. If the system controlunit 50 determines in step S810 that the value of DirNum is 100, theprocess advances to step S813.

Upon determining in step S808 that there are reproducible files, thesystem control unit 50 determines one of the reproducible files whichhas the largest DCF file number as the latest image (step S809). A DCFfile number is a number in the range of “0001 to 9999” forming the lowerfour characters of a DCF file name (eight characters). In step S812, thesystem control unit 50 sets the DCF file number of the latest image tothe variable FileNum. In step S813, the system control unit 50 storesthe value of the variable FileNum as latest-image-related information inthe internal memory or the memory 52. The process then advances to stepS814.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S801 that a latestimage has already been confirmed, the process advances to step S813 tostore the values of DirNum and FileNum which have already beendetermined as latest-image-related information in the internal memory orthe memory 52. The system control unit 50 terminates this processing.

The system control unit 50 determines in step S801 that a latest imagehas been confirmed, when, for example, the nonvolatile memory 56 or thelike stores/holds the DCF directory number (DirNum) and DCF file number(FileNum) of the latest image determined in the previous file searchprocessing.

The latest-image-related information stored in the internal memory orthe memory 52 in the system control unit 50 in step S813 includes theDCF directory number (DirNum) of the folder in which the above latestimage exists and the DCF file number (FileNum) of the latest image. Inthis embodiment, in addition to these pieces of information, the systemcontrol unit 50 records the total number of reproducible files existingin the folder (directory), the image capture date and time, the timestamp of the latest image, and the like as latest-image-relatedinformation.

The above description has been made on the assumption that the systemcontrol unit 50 holds the DCF file number of the latest image in thenonvolatile memory 56 or the like, and stores latest-image-relatedinformation in the internal memory or the memory 52. However, inaddition to the DCF file number of a latest image, the system controlunit 50 may hold other pieces of latest-image-related information in thenonvolatile memory 56 or the like.

When capturing a new image, the system control unit 50 confirms a savedestination folder and a file name by using a DCF directory number andDCF file number following the DCF directory number and DCF file numberof the latest image searched out in this processing.

According to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the system control unit 50searches for a file having the largest DCF file number as the latestimage. However, this is merely an example. For example, the systemcontrol unit 50 may search for the latest image in a specific DCFdirectory in the DCF specifications or an image file recorded last inthe recording medium.

Folder/file management processing in step S125 in FIG. 3 and step S403in FIG. 4 will be described next with reference to the flowchart of FIG.10.

First of all, the system control unit 50 checks whether the foldercreation flag (whose value is determined in the processing in FIG. 9)stored in the internal memory or the memory 52 is ON (S1201). If thesystem control unit 50 determines that the folder creation flag is OFF,the process advances to step S1208 to determine the name of a file to bestored in an existing folder having a DCF directory number equal to thevalue of the variable DirNum.

If the system control unit 50 determines that the folder creation flagis ON, the process advances to step S1202 to create a new folder. Instep S1203, the system control unit 50 sets off (resets) the foldercreation flag (see FIG. 12). The system control unit 50 performs thisoperation to respond to an explicit folder creation instruction from theuser and to prevent the creation of a meaningless folder. In addition,as a result, even if, for example, the automatic folder creation flag isON, the folder creation flag is OFF without any change in mode.Therefore, the display unit does not display the icon 28 g (see FIG. 15)for the creation of a folder.

Subsequently, the system control unit 50 advances to step S1204 to storethe DCF directory number of the new folder in the variable DirNum, anddetermines the name of a file to be saved in the new folder in stepS1205. Assume that the DCF directory number of the new folder has thevalue obtained by adding one to the DCF directory number of the folderin which the latest image is saved. In addition, assume that of the filename saved in the new folder, the initial value of the file number is0001. Assume also that the upper four characters of the file name form acharacter string set in the digital camera 100 in advance.

If a save file name is determined, the system control unit 50 advancesto step S1206 to store the DCF file number of the save file in thevariable FileNum. The system control unit 50 then terminates thisprocessing.

The image capture condition setting processing in step S108 in FIG. 2will be described next with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11.

First of all, the system control unit 50 checks in step S1301 whetherthe mode dial 60 is at the position of the continuous shooting mode. Ifthe dial is at the position of the continuous shooting mode, the systemcontrol unit 50 advances to step S1302 to set a continuous shooting flagindicating that the current image capture mode is the continuousshooting mode in the internal memory or the memory 52, and terminatesthe processing.

If the mode dial 60 is not in the position of the continuous shootingmode, the system control unit 50 advances to step S1303 to check whetherthe dial is in the position of the bracket mode. If the dial is in theposition of the bracket mode, the system control unit 50 sets a bracketflag indicating that the current image capture mode is auto bracketingin the internal memory or the memory 52 in step S1304, and terminatesthe processing.

If the mode dial 60 is not located at either the position of thecontinuous shooting mode or the position of the bracket mode, the systemcontrol unit 50 advances to step S1305 to clear both the continuousshooting flag and the bracket flag stored in the internal memory or thememory 52. The system control unit 50 then terminates the processing.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the user makes asetting on the menu window in FIG. 13 for the creation of a new folderupon a change in an image source, i.e., the automatic folder creationflag is turned on, the system control unit 50 automatically creates afolder and saves new image data in the folder if the source of thelatest image data stored in the recording medium 200 (or 210) differsfrom the source of image data currently stored. In addition, it is whenimage data to be stored is captured or image data is received that a newfolder is actually created. This can therefore suppress a meaninglessincrease in the number of folders.

In addition, according to this embodiment, when creating a new folder,the system control unit 50 turns off the manual folder creation flagregardless of whether the manual folder creation flag is ON or OFF. Thatis, once creating a new folder, the system control unit 50 regards thatthe user has not operated the new folder creation request button 74.This can further suppress an increase in the number of folders.

According to this embodiment, displaying the icon 28 g on the displayunit 54 or the image display unit 28 in accordance with the foldercreation flag makes it possible to give a notification of the creationof a new folder. It should be noted that when the manual folder creationflag is OFF and the automatic folder creation flag is ON, the icon 28 gis automatically displayed or not displayed every time the user changesthe mode. That is, this makes it possible to notify in advance the userof information for the determination of whether to create a folder.

If the user does not want to create any folder, he/she may operate thenew folder creation request button 74 again or make settings on thewindow in FIG. 13.

In consideration of this point, if the user does not want to create anew folder, it is preferable to discriminate whether to operate the newfolder creation request button 74 again or display the window in FIG. 13and make settings again. For this purpose, this camera prepares twokinds of icons 28 g (with different colors or shapes). In addition, itsuffices to allow determination whether the folder creation flag isturned on because the manual folder creation flag is ON or the automaticfolder creation flag is ON. In brief, it suffices to allow the foldercreation flag to hold a ternary value instead of a binary value of “ON”or “OFF”. More specifically, upon determining NO in step S902 in FIG. 9,the system control unit 50 may set the folder creation flag to “1”. Upondetermining YES in steps S906 and 5909 in FIG. 9, the system controlunit 50 may set the folder creation flag to “2”. Otherwise, the systemcontrol unit 50 may set the folder creation flag to “0”.

Other Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the icon 28 g is displayed or notdisplayed to announce the creation of a folder. However, it suffices tomake this announcement by a message using characters or the like insteadof the icon or in other forms, e.g., a sound output. Alternatively, theannouncement may be made by using a combination of them. That is, theannouncement form to be used is not limited to any specific one as longas it is a notification means which can notify the user that a folder isnewly created at the time of image capture or reception.

If the image processing apparatus includes no display device capable ofdisplaying icons, characters, and the like or a display unit capable ofdisplaying icons, characters, and the like in accordance with settingsand the like is OFF, another method can be used. For example, a foldercreation indication may be displayed by turning on/off a simpler displaydevice, e.g., an LED, or notification may be given using a sound. If athrough-the-lens image cannot be displayed as in the case of a digitalsingle lens reflex camera, no display may be performed by the displayunit, and notification may be given using an LED or sound.

Various state indications (for example, 28 a to 28 f in FIG. 15) otherthan the folder creation indication in the digital camera 100 may be OFFdepending on user settings. Even in such a case, only a folder creationindication (for example, 28 g in FIG. 15) may be displayed to reliablynotify the user of the creation of a folder. This allows the user toeasily grasp the folder creation indication even at the time ofactivation or mode switching.

The above embodiment has exemplified two kinds of image data sources,i.e., “source inside camera” and “source outside camera”. However, sincean external apparatus can be specified by negotiation in communication(for example, a distant apparatus can be uniquely specified by a MACaddress in a wireless LAN), it suffices to create a folder for each typeof external apparatus. For this purpose, if an image data source isoutside the camera, “latest image source” in the setting table in FIG.12 may also store information for uniquely specifying the externalapparatus.

In the above embodiment, the user operates the new folder creationrequest button 74 to turn on/off the manual folder creation flag.However, it suffices to turn on/off the manual folder creation flag on aGUI as in the case of the automatic folder creation flag. FIG. 18 showsan example of such a GUI.

Referring to FIG. 18, the menu prepares two check boxes, i.e., a checkbox 28 k for “new creation” and a check box 28 l for “create when imagesource changes”. If the former check box is checked, the manual foldercreation flag is turned on. If the latter check box is checked, theautomatic folder creation flag is turned on.

Each embodiment described above has exemplified still image captureoperation. However, in addition to the still image mode, a moving imagemode is conceivable as the image capture mode in step S106 in FIG. 2.Obviously, in the case of moving image capture as well, the same effectsas those in the case of still image capture can be obtained byperforming folder creation determination processing and setting displayprocessing before image capture and turning off the folder creationindication when a new folder is created and a captured moving image issaved in it. Although it takes a long time to capture a moving image,since the folder creation indication is displayed until a new folder isactually created and the image is saved in it, the folder creationindication is displayed during image capture.

Although the above embodiment has exemplified a wireless means as acommunication means for receiving data from the outside, it suffices touse a wired means.

In addition, the above embodiment receives image data from the outsideduring the reproduction mode. However, it suffices to additionallyprepare an external reception mode so as to allow reception of data onlyduring the mode.

Although not specifically described in the above embodiment, a desiredimage can be transmitted to an external apparatus (another digitalcamera). In order to execute this mode, the user selects a transmissionmode with the mode dial 60. In the transmission mode, the user selectsdesired image data in the recording medium 200 (or 210) and issues aninstruction to transmit the data.

Note that the recording media 200 and 210 are not limited to memorycards such as PCMCIA cards, CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory,or the like, hard disks, and the like, but may comprise micro DATs,magneto-optical disks, optical disks such as CD-Rs, CD-RWs, or the like,phase change optical disks such as DVDs, and the like.

Furthermore, the recording media 200 and 210 may comprise hybrid mediaobtained by integrating memory cards, hard disks, and the like.Moreover, part of such hybrid media may be detachable.

The above embodiment has exemplified the recording media 200 and 210which are independent of the digital camera 100 and are arbitrarilyconnectable. One or both the recording media may be fixed to the digitalcamera 100.

The digital camera 100 may be designed to allow connection of anarbitrary number (one or a plurality) of image recording media 200 or210.

In the above embodiment, the recording media 200 and 210 are attached tothe digital camera 100. However, this camera may use one or acombination of a plurality of recording media.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by aplurality of devices or an apparatus comprising a single device.

The object of the present invention is implemented even by supplying astorage medium (or a recording medium) storing software program codesfor implementing the functions of the above embodiments to a system orapparatus, and causing the computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system orapparatus to read out and execute the program codes stored in thestorage medium. In this case, the program codes read out from thestorage medium implement the functions of the above embodiments bythemselves, and the storage medium storing the program codes constitutesthe present invention. The functions of the above embodiments areimplemented not only when the readout program codes are executed by thecomputer, but also when the operating system (OS) running on thecomputer performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of theinstructions of the program codes.

The functions of the above embodiments are also implemented when theprogram codes read out from the storage medium are written in the memoryof a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a functionexpansion unit connected to the computer, and the CPU of the functionexpansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all ofactual processing on the basis of the instructions of the program codes.

Note that the present invention may be implemented by combining theabove embodiments or their technical elements, as needed.

In addition, the present invention may be designed such that the scopeof claims or all or some of the components of the embodiments form oneapparatus, may be an apparatus coupled to another apparatus, or may beelements constituting an apparatus.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2006-043169, filed on Feb. 20, 2006, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1. An image pickup apparatus including a communication unit, whichcommunicates with an external apparatus, comprising: a mode selectionunit which selects an image capture mode using an image pickup unit or acommunication mode using the communication unit; a storing and holdingunit which stores and holds information for discriminating whether thelatest image data stored in a storage medium is image data obtained inthe image pickup mode or image data obtained in the communication mode;a determination unit which determines whether to create a new folder, bycomparing a current mode selected by said mode selection unit with amode in which the latest image data is stored in said storing andholding unit; and a file management unit which creates a new folder inthe storage medium when image data to be stored in the storage medium isobtained in one of the modes and said determination unit determines thata new folder is to be created, stores the image data as a file in thenew folder, and if said determination unit determines not to create anew folder, stores the image data as a file in an existing folder in thestorage medium.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a notify unit adapted to notify a user that a new folder willbe created in response to acquisition of a new image to be stored, ifsaid determination unit determines that a new folder is created.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said notify unit displays, on adisplay unit of the pickup apparatus, an icon indicating that a newfolder will be created.
 4. A control method for an image pickupapparatus including a communication unit, which communicates with anexternal apparatus, comprising: a mode selection step of selecting animage pickup mode using an image pickup unit or a communication modeusing the communication unit; a determination step of determiningwhether to create a new folder, by referring to a storing and holdingunit, which stores and holds information for determining whether thelatest image data stored in a storage medium is image data obtained inthe image pickup mode or image data obtained in the communication mode,and comparing the mode in which the latest image data is stored with thecurrent mode determined in the mode selection step; and a filemanagement step of creating a new folder in the storage medium whenimage data to be stored in the storage medium is obtained in one of themodes and it is determined in the determination step that a new folderis to be created, storing the image data as a file in the new folder,and if it is determined in the determination step that a new folder isnot to be created, storing the image data as a file in an existingfolder in the storage medium.